Giving Cheerfully - Local Girl Begins Tithing The Nest

Kelly Bullion with her daughter, MacKenzie. MacKenzie recently began tithing is to The Nest domestic violence shelter. (Courtesy)

Within each person is a wealth of passion and energy that can be harnessed to make good things happen. Passion awakens for different people at different times and by different means. Some of us find it when we reach adulthood, build families, get meaningful careers or join teams of amazing people. Others find that passion at a young age.

MacKenzie "Mack" Bullion is the lively, nine-year-old daughter of Kelly and Duane Bullion. Though young, Mack finds her schedule packed between homework, cheering, supporting her friends and the recently discovered necessity she calls "me time." Through direction from her parents and her church, she has found a passion for giving. On her way home from cheer practice one day, she discussed a valuable lesson with her mother: tithing.

"We were talking about my birthday money. My mom said, 'You should have a monthly tithe,' and I asked what it was," the youngster said. "She said that it's when you take everything that God has blessed you with and give 10 percent of it back. I chose to give 10 percent of my birthday money to The Nest. I offered them $10 for anything they needed."

In addition to Mack's gift, her parents also donated an additional $25.

Mack had already been familiar with The Nest for close to a year.

"It all started at Christmas," she said. "I felt bad because I had too many toys. My mom said, 'How about The Nest?' I gave the children some of my board games, toys and clothes."

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Mack has already become aware of the presence of violence in her community.

"I have two people in my family who have been through domestic violence," Mack said. "It's taken them many years to bounce back."

"Really, they've still got years of work ahead of them," her mother said.

In the future, Mack plans to continue supporting The Nest.

"I just feel happy," Mack said. "I want them all to have better lives, more toys, more clothes. I will keep giving to them when I can."

Having thought about what she values and wants to achieve, she said, "I want to have a nice family. I want to do something that pays well and that keeps a roof over my head -- or maybe be a fashion designer."

Many businesses in Lincoln County have been reliable partners for HEAL and The Nest. Among them is Golden Yarn Flooring in Ruidoso. Recently, when it came time to replace the tattered rug in the children's playroom at the shelter, Golden Yarn offered a new remnant to cover the tiled floor. In the past, the Golden Yarn also provided tile at cost for the two handicap-accessible bedrooms in the Nest.

The mission of Help End Abuse for Life (HEAL) is to coordinate and offer support services and safe haven to stop domestic violence in Lincoln County, New Mexico. The Nest is the only area shelter for victims of domestic abuse. For more information contact HEAL at 1-866-378-6378.

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